Retractable strake device



May 12, 1953 L. COLIN 2,638,384

RETRACTABLE STRAKE DEVICE Filed May 18, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORLot/l6 coLiN -May 12, 1953 L. COLIN Filed May 18, 1950 RETRACTABLESTRAKE DEVICE v s Sheets-Sheet z I VENTOR LOU/'5 do;

May 12, 1953 couN 2,638,384

RETRACTABLE STRAKE DEVICE Filed May 18, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ruvznmeLav/s COL/N ATTK May 12, 1953 COLIN RETRACTABLE STRAKE DEVICE 6 Sheets-s4 Filed May 18 1950 -l ie.5.

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I 3 V5 810R y 2, 1953 COLIN RETRACTABLE STRAKE DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed May 18, 1950 INVENTOR Loi/js COLIN ATTK May 12, 1953 L. COLINRETRACTABLE STRAKE DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 18, 1950 Haw.

INVENTOR LOU/'3 COLIN Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICERETRACTABLE STRAKE DEVICE Louis Colin, Quimper, France Application May18, 1950, Serial No. 162,620 In France May 23, 1949 Claims. (Cl. 301-47)This invention relates to a retractable strake device which is adaptedto be mounted on the with the use of the strakes, the adhesion of which.

is substituted or added to that of the tyres.

The main feature of the device according to the invention resides in thefact that it comprises a first ring, brackets fastened to said firstring and adapted to be fastened and laterally centered on the wheel, asecond ring mounted on said first ring so as to be angularly movablewith respect thereto, strakes hingedly mounted on said second ring, andlinks connecting said strakes to fixed points on said first ring, sothat said strakes are retracted, or extended beyond the thread of thetyre on said wheel, according to the angular position of said secondring with respect to said first ring.

The second ring carrying the strakes is advantageously formed by achannel-iron the cavity of which is used as a grease container, saidcavity being closed by a metal sheet and holes being provided in the webof said channel-iron, so as to give the grease access to the surfaces bywhich I said web and the underlying fixed first ring slide on eachother.

The heads of the links connecting the strakes to the fixed ring aretubular and are connected together by a hollow link body containing areserve of grease. 1 j

The invention also relates to the means for adjusting the angularposition of the movable second ring with respect to the fixed ring, inorder to extend or to retract the strakes, whichmeans may comprise ascrew and nut mechanism or a pair of hydraulic jacks.

Other features of the invention will appear in the following descriptionand in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment, of which Fig. 1 is anelevational view of the device mounted on a wheel, some of the strakesbeing shown in extended position and the others in retracted position,and

Fig. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic vertical diametral section.

Fig. 2a is a detail cross section on line A-,-A of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2b is a detail section of the ring structure:

of Fig. 1, showing a lubricator and a locking'bolt provided thereon.

1 Fig. 8 is a plan view,

Figs. 3 to 11 relate to a second embodiment, of

which Fig. 3 is an elevational view of one half of the device, showingthe jstrakes in their extended or active position,

Fig. l is an elevational view of one half of the device, showing thestralzes in their retracted or road position,

Fig. 5 is a section, of the two rings, showing the manner in which thefork supporting the common hinge axis of the jacks is mounted on thefixed ring,

Fig. 6 is a section on line VI-VI of Fig. 5,

Fig. '7 is an elevation, with parts in section,

showing the jacks and the oil compressor for actuating the same,

at a larger scale than Figs. 5 and 6, of a device for locking themovable ring on the fixed ring,

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section online IX- IX of Fig. 8,

Fig. 10 is across section and j V Fig. 11 illustrates the ,operation ofthejacks when the strakes are brought to their road position without theuse of a compressor. 1

In the first embodiment, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the inner ring is forexample made of a flat iron band I which is bent; has its ends weldedtogether and is provided with brackets 2 which are formed, for example,b y two channel-irons welded together and to the ring I. These brackets,which are evenly distributed over the circumference of the ring 'I, hav-end plates 3 which are formed with holes through which they can befastened to the Wheel by means of bolts, such as, for exon line X-X ofFig.8

" ample, the same bolts or stud-bolts by which the The movable ring 5,which carries the retractable strakes, is formed by a channel-iron whichis adjusted by the back of its web on the outer surface of the fixedring vI. The movable ring 5 is displaced angularly 0n the fixed ring bymeans of a mechanism which comprises in this embodiment a screw andanut. A fork 6 which, is rigidly mounted,.for example welded, on thefixed ring I passes through. a circumferential slot formed in the web ofthe movable ring 5 and carries a bearing 1a (Fig. 2a) pivoted on a pin!and in which the end of a screw 8 is able to rotate but locked againstlongitudinal displacement. The

screw 8 engages a nut 8a which is pivoted on a. pin 9 between two wingsor extensions Ill pro-.

vided on the flanges of the movable ring 5. By turning the square end ofthe screw 8, by means of a wrench (which may be the same as that usedfor mounting the wheel-rim 4 on the wheel-disc), the movable ring 5 canbe displacedangularly on the fixed ring I, in one or the otherdirection,

at a larger scale, of a portion I The non-slip strakes areadvantageously formed by pairs of angle-shaped fiat irons H which areconnected together at their outer ends by a welded plate it. The spacingbetween these angle-shaped irons l l is equal to the width of the ringsover which they fit exactly, and they are pivotally mounted on pins l3which traverse the wings of the movable ringli l'egtb larly distributedpoints. The ends of the shorter inner arms of each pair of angle-shapedirons l t forming a stralie are connected together by a pin It on whichis pivotally mounted one end of a link it the opposite end of which ispivotally mounted on a pin it carried by two wines is welded to the l orto the brackets 2. The stralcescouldcf course-also be made ofcast metal.

The links M! have the shape of a double T. Their body portion i l istubular and theirheads ll, which are also tubular, are pivotally engagedon the pins t5 and iii. The inner cavity of each link body It forms agrease container. By mounting a lubricat-or or grease-box on each linkbody Hi, a grease supply suliicient for a prolonged eervicecan beprovided.

The cavity of the channel-iron which forms the movable ringv 5 can alsobe used as a grease container and to th-iseflect the saidcavity can beclosed by a stripiron 28 on which are: mounted one or more lubricatorsor grease-boxes a. The grease. lubricates the bearing surfaces of thepins I3 and passes through conveniently distributed holes 502 to thesurface by which the fixed ring I- and the movable ring. 5 slide on eachother.

It will be easily understood that by turning the screw 3 in theconvenient direction, the strakes l l-l2 can be retracted. inwardly, asshown the lower half of Fig. 1., or extended outwardly, as sh-o-wnin theupper half of Fig. 1.

In the first case,- the vehicle wheel adheres to the ground only by thetread otitstyre 2!, while in thesecond case the ends of the strakes li-l 2 penetrate into the ground so as to increase the adhesion.

In order to. avoid an over'str'aining of the threadsof the screw ll bythe intense effort resulting. from the reactions of the strake's H-IEengaging. the ground, a feature of the invention consists in theprovision of means for locking the movable ring on the fixed ring I.

.In the present embodiment, these means are formed by one or morebolts22 the stem ofwhich passes through a hole in the fixedring I .andthrough circumferentially elongated aperture formed in the web of themovable ring as shown in Fig. 2?).

Each bolt 22 carries a nut which is accessible from the inner side ofthe fixed ring I, whereby the movable ring 5 can be locked on the fixedring 2 after extension of the st'rakes ll'--i2.

The shape of the outer active ends of the strakes l 5-52 is such thatthey can be fitted with rubber shoes 23 which ar maintained in positionby a bolt it the stern; of which is in contact with the inner edge-ofthe plate f2, as shown at the upper parts of Figs; 1 and 2.

The fitting of the stra-kes the shoes 23 is advantageous in that itavoids a damaging of the roots and root-crops, particularly during theharvesting of potatoes.

In Figs. 3 and which relates to a second embodiment of the invention,the fixed ring I is again secured to the vehicle Wheel by brackets 2,which are in this case cross-braced by st 'ut's 2a.

The movable ring 5 is again. formed by a chain nel-iron; theangle-shapedstralie's H pivo'tally mounted on pins it 5114 their inn -1arms are pivotally connected at is to links the opposite ends of whichare pivotally connected at l-Eto pairs of wings 55 secured to the finedring I or to the brackets 23.

fork is mounted on the rin means of bolts 25 traversing a key and 6)which is engaged in a slot lil in the web of the channel 11 forming ablering 5 The bolts 25 .so hold a metal sheet 28 which extends to bothsides of the fork as-to cover and to protect the part of sai-zi which isleft free, on one or the other side of key according to the position ofthe {no 5 with respect to the ring The fork 5 carries the pin 7 on whichnivotally mounted the cylinders 23a and of r oppositely directed h aulicjacks. cyl der is mounted on t..-.e i ih "l by work 3 and the cylinder24% is mounted on the pin l by a fiat head engaged between. the branchesof the fork Bllm The diameter of the holes formed in said forl'; andhead for the passage of the pin 1 is such that it leaves a certain y,due to which the head till) can engage the be w in of the fork SGaandthe jacks prop up against each other, so. that the pin l is submitted tono bending or shearing pivotally' connected at its outer end to a or3373'" carried by a fork Ma or 3% formed h wings fastened on the flangesof the channeliron forming the movable ring 5.

respectively for its filling and emptying, single connecting socket 35aor iiiib the p 38c or 35b of which is controlled by a e pressed one-wayvalve 3l'a or 3%. At re t, that is to say/when the stra ke's H areeithei in the extended active or in the retracted road po each of thesoc-Frets 35c and 35b is closed respectively by a stopper Silo orIniiheactiveposition (Fig. 3) the cylinder is filled with-oil'and itspiston 32b is in its outer position; while the piston; 31a the othercylinoler is in its inner position.

In combinationwith the hydraulic jacks which have been described, usemay be made of the oil compressor shown in Fig. 7.

This compressor comprises a tank it, a pump cylinder-M a pump piston 42controlled by a lever 43 -43 a delivery valve 44 and a delivery pipelit-which carries at its end a connecting nipple in two parts 45 4'6part 46 of which is provided with a one-way valve 4'1, while part 36 isadapted to be screwed intoeither of the sockets 35a and 35b of thejacks.

The compressor is advantageously rovided with a tubular support 48 whichcan be engaged on a rod 4 9 secured to the fixed. ring l, for example bybeing welded on one of the struts 2a, whereby the compressor can beoperated without being held by hand.

Thecompressor is further provided with pipe 50 connected to the tank 16and carrying at its end a connecting nipple El -5i the part 5H of whichis provided with a one-way valve 52 and witha finger Fr3 adapted to openthe one-way valve 31a or 37b of either of the jacks, when the part 51 isscrewed into the socket 35a or 35b of theijack-cylinderwhich is to beemptied.

Starting from the position shown in Fig. 3,

connections are made, as shown in Fig. '7, on the.

one hand between the connectingnipple Mi --46 of the delivery pipe 45 ofthe compressor andthe connecting socket 35a of thejack cylinder 29a,

and onthe other hand between the :connectin nipple -5l of pipe 50 andthe connectingsocket 352) of the jack cylinder29b." Theilev'er of thecompressor is then operated, whereby the cylinder 29a is filled by'theoil under pressure which opens the valves 44, 41 and31a. .The,pis-.- ton3k; is thus progressively forced: out ofthe cylinder 29a and turns themovable ring 5c1ockwise, whereby the strakes H are'brought to thedesired retracted position. Simultaneously,'the' piston 3 lb enters thecylinder 29b and expels. the oil contained in the latter. As the valve312) is now opened by the finger 53, the oil passes through the passage36b, opens the valve, and returns to the'tank 40 of the compressor,through pipe 50. 1 Q

When it is desired to obtain a displacement .of the movable ring in theopposite direction, in order to extend the strakes I l agaimas shown inFig. 3, it is sufficient to reverse the above described connections and,to operate the'compressor. I

As in the embodiment of Figs. .1. and 2, bolts 22 are provided forlocking the movable ring 5 on the fixed ring I, particularly when thestrakes II are in active position, whereby the'reaction of the strakesduring the advanceof the vehicle is prevented from being transmittedthrough the movable ring 5 to the piston 3Ib. Thus, the oil contained inthe cylinder 2% isnot compressed during the operation ofthe vehicle andaleakage of this oil is avoided.

In order to ascertain a. positive locking ofthe ring 5 on the ring I bythe bolts 22, the head 22a, of each of these bolts, which is locatedinside the channel-iron of the ring 5, as shown in- Figs. 8 to 10, isprovided on its lower surface with teeth 54 which engage, when the nut55 is tightened on the bolt 22, the teeth of a rack 56 mounted on thebottom of the channel-iron 5. This rack is formed with an elongatedopening 51 through which passes the stem of the bolt 22, springs 58being provided for raising the head 22a of the bolt 22 when the nut 55is subsequently unscrewed, so as to disengage the teeth 54 from the rack5'6.

In order to reduce the number of tools required, the part 43 of theoperating lever of the compressor can be made removable and carry aspanner 43 for the nuts 55, while the pointed end of part 43 can be usedfor cleaning purposes.

Instead of using an ordinary stopper for closing the socket 351) of thejack cylinder 29b controlling the extension of the strakes into theiractive position, the socket 35b may be provided with a special stopper3812 which is shown in Fig. 11. This stopper is provided with a finger60 which opens the valve 31b when the screw BI is screwed into thestopper. The screw 6! has a flattened portion 61a. forming a passagewhich communicates with a clearance 62 left between the washer 63 andthe top of the stopper body, even when the screw BI is screwed in andthe finger 60 is in the position in which it opens the valve 31b.

With the aid of this special stopper, the strakes can be brought back totheir road position without' using the compressor. stoppers are left inposition and the valve 31b is opened by screwing in the screw 6!,whereafter the vehicle is made to advance. The reaction of the ground'onthe strakes pushes them towards their retracted position and forces thepiston 3 lb. into its cylinder 29b, the oil contained in the latter"escaping freely through the passage 3617, the passage Gla and theclearance 62 of the special stopper.

When the vehicle has advanced sufficiently to retract the strakescompletely, the screw 6! is. unscrewed again and the nuts 55 aretightened on the bolts 22., so as to lock the movable ring 5 on thefixed ring I.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to theembodiments which have been de-.

I claim: 4

- 1. A retractable strake device for the wheels of tractors and othervehicles, comprising a first ring, brackets fastened to said first ring.and adapted to be secured and laterally centered on the vehicle wheel, asecond ring slidably mounted on said first ring so as to be angularlymovable with respect thereto, said second ring being of channel sectionand having a web engaging theouter surface 01 said first ring and twooutwardly directed flanges, a wall closing the channel section of saidsecond ring to form a grease container therein, said web being formedwith holes for the passage of grease to the surfaces by which saidsecond ring slides on said first ring, strakes pivotally mounted on saidsecond ring and-links connecting said strakes to fixed points of saidfirst ring.

--2. A retractable strake device for the wheels of traetorsan d othervehicles, comprising a first ring, brackets fastened to said first ringand adapted tobe secured and laterally centered on the vehicle wheel, asecond ring mounted on said first ring so as to be angularly movablewithrespect thereto,- strakes hingedly mounted on said second ring,links connecting said strakes to fixed points of said first ring in suchmanner that said strakes are retracted when said second ring is in afirst angular position with respect to said first ring and are extendedbeyond the tread of the tyre on said vehicle wheel when said second ringis in a second angular position with respect to said first ring, saidfirst ring being formed with at least one hole, said second ring beingformed with a circumferentially elongated aperture overlying each ofsaid holes, and a locking bolt passing through each of said holes andthe corresponding circumferentially elongated aperture, thecircumferential length of said aperture corresponding to the angulardistance between said first and second angular position of said secondring with respect to said first ring.

3. A. retractable strake device as claimed in claim 2, comprising a rackmounted on said second ring adjacent said elongated aperture, a headformed on the outer end of said locking bolt, teeth on thelowe'r surfaceof said head, a nut screwed on the inner end of said locking bolt forengaging said teeth with said rack and resilient means for disengagingsaid teeth from said rack when said nut is unscrewed.

4. retractable strake device as claimed in claim l,'wherein each of saidlinks comprises two To this :efiect, the

7 tubular heads and a tubular body forming crease container.

5. A retractable strali'e device tor the Wheels of tractors and othervehicles, comprising. a first ring, brackets fastened to said'first ringand adapted to be secured and later iy centered on the vehicle? wheel,a; second r'ii g mounted on said ring so as to be anguiarly' movablewith respect thereto, strakes pivotally mounted on said second ring,links connecting said strakes to fixed points of said first ring, a pinmounted on said first ring, two oppositely directed hyd'raulic jaclccylinders pivotally mounted on" said pin and apiston: in each on?saidcylinclcrs, each of said pistons being pivotally connected by itsouter end to said second ring, so that the filling 5dcylino'ers causesan angular disi said second ring; in one direction withiresp'ectsaiiifirst ring and theemntying of the other of? said cylinders, and thefilling of said other cylinder causes an angular displacement of saidsecond ring in the opposite directi'on' with" respect to saidfirs'trin'g and the emptying of said first mentioned cylinder.

6. A retractabl'e strake device as claimed in claim. 5', comprising a;fork carryii ig said pin, bolts securing said fort: to said first ring,a key traversed by said bolts and engaged in a slot formed in saidsecond ring and a metal sheet extending to both sides of said fork forcovering the part of said slot which is left free, laterally of saidkey, according to the position of said second ring with respect of saidfirst ring.

7. A retractablestrake device as claimed in claim 5, comprising two forkbranches provided onone of said cylinders and pivdtaliy mounted on saidpin, a flat head provided on the other of said cylinders and pivotallymounted on said pin between said fork branches and in contact With saidfirst mentioned cylinder between said branches, so that-said cylindersprop up against each other and said pin is-discharged from bending. andshearingstresses.

8'. A retractable stra'ke device asclaimed in claim 5', comprising forfilling and emptying: saidcylind'ers a single connecting socket on eachof said cylinders, each of said connecting sockets having a passage,spring-pressed one way valve controlling said passage, and means foropening the one-Way valve pertaining to the cylinder to be emptied.

9. A retractable strake device as claimed in claim 5', comprising; forfilling and emptying said cylinders a single connecting socket on eachof said cylinders, eachof said connecting sockets having apassage, a"spring-pressed one-way valve controlling said passage, a compressor forforcing a fluid into one of said cylinders, a fluid r e=- turn pipeleading to said compressor, a 0on nectin'g nipple at the end of mice foren'- gagem'ent with said connecting socket of the other of saidcylinders, and means onsaid connecting nipple for opening said one-Wayvalve in the connecting socket engaged by said connesting nipple '10. Aretractable strake device as claimed in claim 5, comprising for fillingand emptying cylinders-a single connecting soclret on eachof saidcylinders, each of said connecting sockets having a passage; a:spring-pressed one-wayvallve controlling said passage, a stopper forclosing said connecting socket. and. means in saint stopper for openingsaid one-Way valve in said connectins socl'ret of the cyl'inderto beemptied.

LOUIS COLIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,015,545 Craig Jan.- 23, 1912 2,540,147 Sutherland Feb.6,1951 2,54%,050 Schnell i- Mar. 6, 1951

